Wilderness 101
Videos
Watch this Wilderness 101 video and then try your hand at building a survival shelter at home. Get Outside Yourself and share a photo or video of your creation!
Uses for a Bandana
Watch this Wilderness 101 video and then brainstorm 101 uses for a simple bandana. Get Outside Youself and share a photo or video of one of your ideas!
First Aid
Watch this Wilderness 101 video and then practice your own emergency splint. Get Outside Yourself and share a photo or video of your splinted imaginary injury!
10 Essential Items
Watch this Wilderness 101 video and then create your own list of essential survival items. Get Outside Yourself and share a photo or video of your assembled "essentials."
Answer
The original Ten Essentials list was assembled in the 1930s by The Mountaineers, an organization of climbers and outdoor adventurers. The original list of ten items has evolved over time into a list of ten essential “systems” instead of individual items. Here is the modern list of Ten Essentials recommended by outdoor experts to be prepared for emergency survival in the wilderness.
- Navigation (map, compass, GPS unit)
- Light source (headlamp/flashlight plus extra batteries)
- Sun protection (sun protective clothing, sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
- First aid kit
- Knife/multi-tool (plus gear repair kit)
- Fire starting kit (lighter, tinder)
- Shelter (emergency blanket or bivy)
- Extra food
- Extra water (or water treatment)
- Extra clothing (insulation, wind/water protection)
Knots and Lashings
Watch this Wilderness 101 video and then devise a useful gadget of your own. Get Outside Yourself and share a video or photo of your creation.
In-Park Activities
Lightning Position
Try this weather-related Wilderness 101 scenario at Secor Metropark. Get Outside Yourself and share a photo or video of yourself with a thumbs up or thumbs down to indicate if your first choice we the best choice. The instructions and materials will be located near the "frog pond" on the gravel path just west of the NCNP and the map kiosk. This scenario will be available at Secor until noon on Wednesday, November 24th.
Signaling Techniques
Practice some basic signaling techniques with this Wilderness 101 scenario at Swan Creek Preserve Metropark. Get Outside Yourself and share a photo or video of your signaling adventure in the comments below. The instructions and materials will be located in the grassy area near the playground at the Airport Highway entrance, west of the parking lots. This scenario will be available at Swan Creek until noon on Wednesday, December 2nd.
Fire Building
Try this Wilderness 101 scenario at Side Cut Metropark. Get Outside Yourself and share a photo or a video of your "unmatched" fire. The instructions and materials will be located at the fire ring near the sledding hill at the Silver Lake entrance to the park. This scenario will be available at Side Cut until noon on Wednesday, December 22nd.
Shelter Building
Try your hand at building a survival shelter with this Wilderness 101 scenario at Oak Openings Preserve Metropark. Get Outside Yourself and share a photo or video of your shelter in the comments below. The instructions and materials will be located on the orange trail northeast of Mallard Lake. Follow the signs labelled "Wilderness 101" from the Mallard Lake map kiosk to find this Wilderness 101 scenario, or use the GPS link below. This scenario will be available at Oak Openings until noon on Wednesday, January 13th.
Signaling
Practice some basic signaling techniques with this Wilderness 101 scenario at Pearson Metropark. Get Outside Yourself and share a photo or video of your signaling adventure in the comments below. The instructions and materials will be located between parking lot 4 and the restrooms near the Packer-Hammersmith Center. This scenario will be available at Pearson until noon on Wednesday, January 27th.